Electronic distributor



April 27, 1948. a. H. MARMONT 2,440,639

ELECTRONIC DI STRIBUTOR Filed Dec. 5, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 z i & INVEN TOR.

ATTORNEY April 27, 1948. e. H. MARMONT ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTOR Filed Dec. 5, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GEORGE HMARMON 7' AT TOEM'Y Patented Apr. 27, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application December 5, 1945, Serlal No. 832,948

Bills-inns.

This invention relates to electronic distributors and more particularly to means tor obtaining a single radial beam in a distributor tube.

An object of the invention is to provide a single oblique electron beam for a distributor tube.

A further object oi the invention is to provide means for uniformly deflecting an electron beam in an oblique direction within a multi-plate distributor tube.

Another object of the invention is to utilize a magnetic field oblique to the axis of a distributor tube to produce an electron beam between the cathode and a plurality of plate sections within the tube.

A still further object of the invention is to straddle a distributor tube with a rotatable magnet having oflset poles so that the resultant two directional oblique electron beam issuing from the cathode will impinge consecutively upon a plurality of spaced plates in single beam iashion when the magnet is rotated.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings forming part of this specification and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a distributor tube straddled by a, magnet embodied in the invention:

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on lines 2-2 of Fig. i;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on lines 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing details oi the magnet;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on a diametral plane of the distributor tube and Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on lines 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings for more specific details or the invention, a, magnet indicated generally at I is comprised of a cup-like cylindrical casing I! having an internal shoulder I4 and an inturned lip i6. Two corresponding pole pieces it and 20, preferably of soft iron, are located in an oppositely disposed relation to each other within the casing l2, one of the pieces abutting the lip I6 and the other abutting the shoulder II. The pole pieces are retained within the easing by shims 22 and 2|, and the pole pieces are joined by two skewed c-shaped members 26 and 2! preferably made or an alloy having permanent magnetic properties.

A shait 30 secured to the casing I! in axial relation thereto is mounted for rotation on a bearing 32 fitted on a fixed support 34 and a 55 tube, indicated generally at ll, is partially enclosed by the casing. The tube comprises a glass bulb II fitted in a base lll supported on a suitable bracket 42. The base has a plurality of pins 44 adapted to be received within a socket l6 and the socket has a lead 48 connected thereto.

The bulb ll encloses a highly evacuated space having therein two insulating spacers Ill and 52, each having perforations for the reception oi a plurality of plate sections II, a cathode l8, and a plurality of tabs on an anode cylinder 5|.

The anode cylinder 58 comprises a large diametral portion ill, a smaller diametral portion 82. and an inclined portion 64 between the two portions 60 and 82. The inclined part M of the cylinder has a plurality of rectangular perforations 86 for free passage therethrough oi the plate sections ll.

While this particular type 01 cylinder has been no found highly desirable, it is to be understood that other suitable means for shielding the lower halves of the plate sections 54 from the electron beam may be employed with equally good eilect. as A plurality of leads it connects the plate sections 64 and the cylinder 58 to the pins 4!, and a heater I0 is connected to the cathode I! to cause electron emission from an activated portion l2 0! the cathode when a current is applied to the heater, and a conventional getter assembly ll is attached to a tab on the larger diametral portion III of the cylinder 58.

The mode oi operation is as follows: The anode cylinder 68 and the plate sections are held at a 3 positive electro-static potential with respect to the cathode it. When current is applied to the heater Ill. an electron emission occurs from the activated portion 12 01 the cathode 56.

The electrostatic field set up by the plate sections it and the cylinder 58 and the magnetic field induced by the magnet l0 straddling the tube coact to draw out a sheet of electrons from opposite sides of the cathode in oblique radial directions, as shown in Fig. 4. The beam in one direction impinges on the smaller diametral portion 62 of the cylinder I8 and is prevented from reaching the plate sections 54. while the beam in the opposite direction has an unobstructed passage to the plate sections. Thus only a single beam is utilized by the distributor tube in its operation.

when the invention is used tor ignition timing and distribution for an internal combustion engine, it will be necessary to gear the magnet to the engine crankshaft, whereupon the rota- 3 tion of the magnet will consecutively set up signals on the plate sections it and these signals may be conducted to the engine cylinder spark pm- A single beam will allow the magnet speed to be one-half the crankshaft speed instead of one quarter as with a double beam. Since timing accuracy depends primarily on the orientation of the elements within the tube and the speed of rotation of the magnet, a single beam, since it allows a greater magnet speed, will provide (or an optimum in timing accuracy.

While this invention has been described in connection with certain specific embodiments, the principle involved is susceptible of numerous other applications that will readily occur to persons skilled in the art. The invention is, therefore. to be limited only as indicated by the scope oi the appended claims.

Having thus described the various features of the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electronic distributor comprising a radial beam tube, a centrally located cathode therein. a plurality oi plate sections surrounding the cathode, an anode cylinder having a portion surrounding the plate sections and another portion interposed between the cathode and plate sections, and a rotatable magnet straddling the tube.

2. An electronic distributor comprising a radial beam tube, a centrally located cathode therein, a plurality of spaced plate sections surrounding the cathode, a double diametral anode cylinder mounted within the tube with the smaller diametral portion between the cathode and plate sections and the larger diametrai portion outside of the plate sections, and a magnet having oilset pole pieces straddling the tube cil'ective to provide a two directional electron beam oblique to the longitudinal axis of the tube upon the heating of the cathode.

8. An electronic distributor comprising a radial beam tube. a centrally located cathode therein, an anode cylinder spaced from the cathode having a lower portion 01' small diameter, an outwardly inclined shoulder portion at the upper end thereof having spaced apertures therein, and an upper portion of large diameter on the shoul- 4 by two skewed c-shaped t magnet members straddling the tube thereby providing an oblique two directional electron beam so disposed with reference to the axis of the tube that the beam in one direction only can impinge on the plate sections.

4. An electronic distributor ior ignition timing of an internal combustion engine comprising a radial beam tube, a centrally located cathode therein. an anode cylinder spaced from the cathode, said cylinder being a unitary member having three portions; a lower portion 01' one diameter, an upper portion of larger diameter and an upwardly inclined transitional portion having a plurality oi spaced apertures therethrough, a plurality of plate sections extended through the spaced apertures, a plurality of leads connected to each plate section for connection in the ignition system of an engine, a heater for the cathode to cause electron emission therefrom, and a magnet having oiiset permeable pole pieces joined by two skewed c-shaped permanent magnet members straddling the tube, the magnet parts being enclosed in a cylindrical casing adapted to be connected to the crankshaft of the engine.

5. In an electronic distributor tube having a cathode and a plurality of plate sections, means for directing the electron emission from the cathode in two oppositely disposed beams, means for rotating the beams, and means for preventing one of the beams from impinging on the plate sections.

6. In an electronic distributor tube having a cathode and a plurality of plate sections, means for directing the electron emission from the cathode in two oppositely disposed beams, means for rotating the beams in a continuous repetitious circular path, and stationary means for continually preventing one of the beams from impinging on the plate sections.

GEORGE H. MARMONT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS der portion, a plurality of plate sections extended Number Name Date throu h th spa d apertures. and a magnet hav- 2,221,743 Wagner Nov. 12, 1940 in onset pole pieces of permeable metal Joined 2,263,377 B usignies at al Nov. 18, 1941 Disclaimer 2,440,639.-Georgc H. Marmont, Detroit, Mich. ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTOR. Patent dated Apr. 27, 1948. Aviation Corporation.

Disclaimer filed Sept. 9, 1950, by the assignee, Bendix Hereby enters this disclaimer to claim 5 of said patent except where this claim is limited to a structure in which the last mentioned means in the claim one of the beams from im in ing on the plate section.

[Ofic'ial Gazette caviar s, 1950] prevents only 3 tion of the magnet will consecutively set up signals on the plate sections it and these signals may be conducted to the engine cylinder spark pm- A single beam will allow the magnet speed to be one-half the crankshaft speed instead of one quarter as with a double beam. Since timing accuracy depends primarily on the orientation of the elements within the tube and the speed of rotation of the magnet, a single beam, since it allows a greater magnet speed, will provide (or an optimum in timing accuracy.

While this invention has been described in connection with certain specific embodiments, the principle involved is susceptible of numerous other applications that will readily occur to persons skilled in the art. The invention is, therefore. to be limited only as indicated by the scope oi the appended claims.

Having thus described the various features of the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electronic distributor comprising a radial beam tube, a centrally located cathode therein. a plurality oi plate sections surrounding the cathode, an anode cylinder having a portion surrounding the plate sections and another portion interposed between the cathode and plate sections, and a rotatable magnet straddling the tube.

2. An electronic distributor comprising a radial beam tube, a centrally located cathode therein, a plurality of spaced plate sections surrounding the cathode, a double diametral anode cylinder mounted within the tube with the smaller diametral portion between the cathode and plate sections and the larger diametrai portion outside of the plate sections, and a magnet having oilset pole pieces straddling the tube cil'ective to provide a two directional electron beam oblique to the longitudinal axis of the tube upon the heating of the cathode.

8. An electronic distributor comprising a radial beam tube. a centrally located cathode therein, an anode cylinder spaced from the cathode having a lower portion 01' small diameter, an outwardly inclined shoulder portion at the upper end thereof having spaced apertures therein, and an upper portion of large diameter on the shoul- 4 by two skewed c-shaped permanent magnet members straddling the tube thereby providing an oblique two directional electron beam so disposed with reference to the axis of the tube that the beam in one direction only can impinge on the plate sections.

4. An electronic distributor ior ignition timing of an internal combustion engine comprising a radial beam tube, a centrally located cathode therein. an anode cylinder spaced from the cathode, said cylinder being a unitary member having three portions; a lower portion 01' one diameter, an upper portion of larger diameter and an upwardly inclined transitional portion having a plurality oi spaced apertures therethrough, a plurality of plate sections extended through the spaced apertures, a plurality of leads connected to each plate section for connection in the ignition system of an engine, a heater for the cathode to cause electron emission therefrom, and a magnet having oiiset permeable pole pieces joined by two skewed c-shaped permanent magnet members straddling the tube, the magnet parts being enclosed in a cylindrical casing adapted to be connected to the crankshaft of the engine.

5. In an electronic distributor tube having a cathode and a plurality of plate sections, means for directing the electron emission from the cathode in two oppositely disposed beams, means for rotating the beams, and means for preventing one of the beams from impinging on the plate sections.

6. In an electronic distributor tube having a cathode and a plurality of plate sections, means for directing the electron emission from the cathode in two oppositely disposed beams, means for rotating the beams in a continuous repetitious circular path, and stationary means for continually preventing one of the beams from impinging on the plate sections.

GEORGE H. MARMONT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS der portion, a plurality of plate sections extended Number Name Date throu h th spa d apertures. and a magnet hav- 2,221,743 Wagner Nov. 12, 1940 in onset pole pieces of permeable metal Joined 2,263,377 B usignies at al Nov. 18, 1941 Disclaimer 2,440,639.-Georgc H. Marmont, Detroit, Mich. ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTOR. Patent dated Apr. 27, 1948. Aviation Corporation.

Disclaimer filed Sept. 9, 1950, by the assignee, Bendix Hereby enters this disclaimer to claim 5 of said patent except where this claim is limited to a structure in which the last mentioned means in the claim one of the beams from im in ing on the plate section.

[Ofic'ial Gazette caviar s, 1950] prevents only 

